International Media Newsletter, 22-Dec-2009

Prime Minister George Papandreou headed the Greek delegation to the United Nations climate change summit at Copenhagen in the third week of December. As well as addressing the summit participants and holding a press conference, he met with many foreign leaders, spoke on behalf of Socialist International, and gave several high-profile interviews.

Summit Address

Mr Papandreou noted that mankind had never faced a more serious or difficult challenge than climate change. Agreement and a binding commitment were essential – ‘This is global governance in the making,’ said Mr Papandreou. Not only government but non-governmental bodies and private citizens must be empowered if carbon levels were to be reduced.

Greece would take initiatives in the Mediterranean, cooperating with the European Union’s Spanish presidency (as of January 1st), and would work with Balkan and Black Sea countries. Stressing Greece’s maritime heritage, the Prime Minister called for a reduction of greenhouse gases caused by shipping vessels to be part of the summit agreement, under the aegis of the International Maritime Organisation.

The EU’s commitment to a 30% reduction in greenhouse gases was an example that needed to be followed both by industrialized nations such as the US and by the larger developing countries. Financial means and technological know-how had to be provided for the lesser developed nations. The debate was about more than money. Education systems needed to be revolutionized, the green economy encouraged, and democracies made more participative.

Agreement and progress towards green economies would be possible only with a new spirit of solidarity between nations. ‘We cannot let down the world. We cannot let down our children,’ Mr Papandreou concluded.

Press Conference

Following his summit address, the Greek Prime Minister was asked about the Greek economy. He said that European partners supported the country’s efforts to deal with the problem, pointing out that the markets had not yet taken fully into account the recent change of government and the measures taken. It was paradoxical that credit-rating agencies could ‘make or break’ economies run by democratically elected governments, given that the agencies’ assessments were by no means infallible.

However, Greece had lagged behind the rest of Europe in the past five years and now needed the deep changes that he had proposed for the economy. He was confident that the Greek people and his government would turn the situation around.

Concerning the climate change summit, Mr Papandreou said that the European Union, including Greece, was at the forefront of developing new technologies and forms of investment to reduce greenhouse gases, primarily by rapid changes to modes of industrial production.

Bilateral Meetings

During the summit the Greek Prime Minister had several meetings with world leaders.

Mr Papandreou met with United States President Barack Obama, who invited him to the White House in the spring of 2010.

He met Abdullah Gul, the President of Turkey, who was his ‘opposite number’ in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in previous government. They briefly discussed Greek-Turkish relations and agreed to work towards a solution of the Cyprus problem.

The Greek Prime Minister also met with Gjorgi Ivanov, President of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, at the latter’s request. Both men expressed their hope that the dialogue established between the two countries would lead to increased mutual confidence.

Among other heads of state, the Greek PM also met with President Shimon Peres of Israel.

Socialist International

As President of Socialist International, Mr Papandreou presided over a meeting of the organisation. He stressed that, as well as formulating a new climate model, the Copenhagen summit was about changing the world economic system to one that was more environmentally friendly. The needs of the lesser developed countries had to be addressed – there was far too much inequality in all areas and across the social spectrum. Economic migration was just one of the many pressing problems.

The Greek PM also took part in a press conference, appearing with Ricardo Lagos, President of Chile and U. N. Special Representative on Climate Change. Socialist International’s proposals on the issue, originally presented at the U. N. General Assembly, were reiterated: the need for ‘green’ investments and bonds, for a ‘carbon tax’ to be applied to all polluters, and for the global spread of technical knowledge that would lead to green development.

Interviews

Mr Papandreou gave several interviews during the summit:

CNBC – The Greek PM told CNBC that ‘We need a breather from the rating agencies to allow us to show them that in fact we can bring change to our country.’

Bloomberg TV – Greek PM George Papandreou talked with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua about his determination to turn around the country’s economy. Papandreou also discussed Greece’s budget gap and debt, saying a default is ‘out of the question.’

Associated Press – the Greek PM noted that Greece was not the only country with an ailing economy, and that it was being pointed out unfairly. His government’s measures to counter tax evasion, corruption and public sector waste were widely supported and would provide a long-term solution.